suggestions for pianist with limited skills

[ChopinLoverInPA]

Can anyone give me some suggestions for some easier pieces from the following composers?

Listz
Tchiakovsky
Schumann

My skill level is still beginner level -- I can play Pathitique second movement and a few Chopin preludes (Op 28 #20 in Cm, Raindrop, Op. 28 # 9 in E), and I'm another month or two of practice away from playing Nocturn #2 in Eb cleanly.  I struggle greatly with Rach's Prelude in C#m.  I also work on various Czerny exercises, as well as Bach's double inventions (which I play very slow and very poorly LOL)

Anyway, hope that gives you an idea of the level I'm at -- any suggestions would be appreciated.

CLIPA

[donjuan]

In Liszt, take a look at the consolations- I love No.2 the most
and the liebestraume- No.3 is the most commonly played and easily recognizable.

Also, Valse Oubliee no.1 is pretty easy.  

[bernhard]

Liszt:

Etude op. 1 no. 4 – written when Liszt was only 16, this etude sounds much more difficult than it is, and eventually it grew on to become Mazeppa. So if you cannot play Mazeppa, start with this one (grade 5/6).

Years of Pilgrimage: first year Switzerland – no. 2 Au Lac de Wallenstadt. (grade 7/8)

Years of Pilgrimage: 2nd year Italy no. 2 - Il Pensieroso (grade 7/8)

Years of Pilgrimage: 2nd year Italy no. 3 – Cazonetta del Salvador Rosa (grade 7/8)

Five Hungarian folk songs S. 245 (grade 5/6).

The Shepherds at the Manger S. 186 (grade 5/6)

Sancta Dorothea S. 187 (grade 5/6)

Consolations, S. 172 no. 1 (grade 5/6), no. 2,  no. 3 and no. 4 (grade 6/7), no. 5 and no. 6 (grade 7/8)

Wiegenlied  174 (earlier, easier version of 1854)  (grade 5/6)

The Christmas Tree S. 186 (grade 5 – A set of 12 pieces that Liszt apparently wrote for children, but he probably forgot this, since there are octaves, double thirds, stretches, and so on.

Five piano pieces S. 192 (grade 5/6). This is the easiest Liszt you are going to come across (very high quality nevertheless). Main difficulty are the key signatures.

Nuages gris  S. 199 (grade 5/6)

Valses Oubliees S. 215 (grade 8/8+)

Bagatelle without Tonality S. 216a (grade 8+)

Abschied S. 251 (grade 6/7)

Schumann:

Album for the Young (Op. 68). All 43 pieces are superior.

Bunte Blatter op. 99 (a collection of 14 pieces)

Albumblatter op. 124 (a collection of 20 pieces).

Children Scenes op. 13.

Fantasiestucke op. 12 – intermediate to advanced level, I particularly like Des Abends. The advantage of this set is that the pieces can be prefromed separately, since Schumann did not plan it as a cycle (like Carnival, for instance)

Romance in F# op. 28 no. 2 – Beautiful, lyrical piece more difficult thatn theones above, but well worth the effort. There is a really nice duet played between both thumbs.

Forest scenes op. 82 – Arguably the easiest of Schumann’s cycles of pieces, this one has 9 pieces ranging form intermediate to early advanced. No. 3 (lonely flowers) is very beautiful and not too difficult. No. 7 (Bird as a prophet) is a masterpiece.

Tchaikovsky:

Children’s album op.39 – 28 pieces ranging form beginner to intermediate.

12 pieces of average difficulty, Op. 40 – 12 miniatures ranging from intermediate to early advanced.  The very famous “Chanson triste” is no. 3

The seasons, Op. 37b – 12 pieces, each depicting a different month of the year. More challenging than the two above, but still manageable.

Song without words op. 2 no. 3 – similar to Mendelssohn’s SWW.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[donjuan]

Liszt:

Years of Pilgrimage: first year Switzerland – no. 2 Au Lac de Wallenstadt. (grade 7/8)

That one is pretty tough- the fingering is awkward for anyone without Liszt hands.

[ChopinLoverInPA]

Gentlemen -- thanks so much for your suggestions!  It appears I have lots to work on